Uptown New York (1932) User Reviews (8)

Torn between two lovers

[lugonian · 6/10 · 11 December 2000]

UPTOWN NEW YORK (World Wide Pictures, 1932), directed by Victor Schertzinger, is an independent production starring a slightly young but thin Jack Oakie as Eddie Doyle in a rare dramatic performance. Blonde and sassy Shirley Grey, who is featured as Patricia Smith, is actually the central character here, given a rare opportunity to carry on an entire story during her brief Hollywood stint (1931-1935), which consisted of playing support to lead actors as tough dames/ molls or unfaithful wives in films for various movie studios, as well as appearing in "B" westerns, "poverty row" mysteries and/or chaptered serials.

The plot: Patricia Smith is a middle-class New York City gal in love with Max Silver (Leon Waycoff), but Max is forced by his ambitious Jewish family into a marriage to a girl he doesn't love but will further his career in the medical profession, which he does, leaving Pat behind. Later in Coney Island, Pat meets Eddie Doyle, a bubble gum machine operator. Their relationship starts off on the rocky side, but eventually Pat decides to marry Eddie on the rebound even though she's still thinks of Max. When Max, now a respected surgeon, comes back into her life, she refuses to have anything to do with him because he is now a married man. After Pat is struck by a passing truck, Eddie, who knows of his wife's past relationship with Dr. Max Silver, calls on him to perform an emergency operation. Following the surgery, Eddie is faced with problems regarding keeping both his gum machine business and Pat's love.

Somewhat passable love story taken from the novel by Vina Delmar, with the lead actors (Oakie and Grey) playing against type. Oakie is convincing in serious moments, but still comes off amusingly well during his lighter moments. If the actor who plays Max Silver looks familiar, he had his surname changed from Waycoff to (Leon) Ames, better known for many supporting roles for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in the 1940s and 50s, along with his leading television performance in "Life with Father" in the 1950s. Also in smaller roles are George Cooper, Alexander Carr, Henry Armetta, Lee Moran and Raymond Hatton. Both familiar faces of Tammany Young and Tom Kennedy can be spotted in the locker room during the prize fighting scene set in Madison Square Garden.

Once presented regularly on former cable networks of the late 1980s and early 1990s as Tempo Television and Channel America, UPTOWN NEW YORK can also be found either on video cassette or DVD format (usually at 76 minutes from its original 80). A rare find and curio for movie buffs. (**)

Mostly for Shirley

[ilprofessore-1 · 7/10 · 8 May 2019]

This 1932 independent film, made in the early days of sound, features two of Hollywood's most dependable supporting players in leading male roles--Jack Oakie and Leon Ames. Oakie rarely ever had another role that demanded so much of him emotionally and he makes the most of it, whereas Ames, best remembered today as the father in "Meet Me in St. Louis.," can't do much with the one-dimensional role of the doctor/lover. The big surprise here is Shirley Grey (1902-1981) who is perfectly cast, amazingly natural and sympathetic, in the role of the woman loved by two men. Despite her excellence, her film career as a leading dramatic actress lasted only a few years. No one seemed to have noticed how good she could be.

One of Jack Oakie's Best Performances

[boblipton · 6/10 · 28 April 2019]

Leon Ames is about to get married and sail to Vienna for his medical specialty. He offers to throw it all over if Shirley Grey will marry him.She refuses, he goes off and she cries. Time goes by and she falls in love with Jack Oakie. Then Ames comes back to New York. He repeats his offer to Miss Grey just as Oakie proposes.

It's an oddly cheap movie for the talent involved, including director Victor Schertzinger. Although everything about it seems tentative, that redounds to its credit; it's the emotional uncertainty of the characters that is its point. No one is bad, just weak and needy. Oakie gives a surprisingly layered performance, mostly his usual brash persona, but crumbling easily into an emotional, hurt man. It's a surprisingly strong work from producer E.W. Hammons, far better known for his short silent comedies.

Dramatic acting of Jack Oakie

[pauldeboef · 21 February 2012]

UPTOWN NEW YORK is an underrated romance/drama picture, it really shows more depth and more feeling than many other movies of the early 1930s. Jack Oakie received an Oscar nomination for his acting in "The Great Dictator", but he should have got an Oscar for his absorbing portrayal of Eddie Doyle in UPTOWN NEW YORK. In many scenes Oakie does not act but he IS his character. The scenes when he is waiting in the hospital while his wife is operated in the next room are stunning. I have never seen something like this before. Beautiful Shirley Grey is also totally convincing and perfect as the beloved New York gal. (In some of the scenes she looks like Madonna). Leon Ames is good as the successful Jewish doctor, but Jack Oakie steals the show and makes UPTOWN NEW YORK - 80 years ago now - a great film with a timeless quality. And for a 1932 movie, it's quite modern in feel. The film has many imaginative scenes with great photography. The quality of the DVD from Alpha Entertainment is pretty bad and the framing is not very good. But Alpha is the only DVD available.

An effective and engrossing early talkie "Uptown New York"

[glennstenb · 9/10 · 23 April 2019]

This is a highly engrossing film from the early 1930s, with excellent direction and attention to detail, including camera angles and scene composition. Everybody seems to have discernible failings, making the concerns that the characters feel seem realistic. The difficulties and angst the characters feel through their relationships translate to the viewer quite well for the early year that this picture was made. The acting is wonderful, including the always fun-to-see Jack Oakie, and the gorgeous Shirley Grey. Ms. Grey conveys subtle emotion beautifully with her body language and her expressive eyes. She seems so real. Mr. Ames was introduced as a bit of an unsympathetic manipulator early on and there was even an aura of possible villainy with his sneaking into Grey's apartment (an interesting complication for the viewer). The many scene settings and locales were varied and depicted life in that time well, including several domiciles, the wrestling arena, and the soda fountain. I feel like I was part of life in early 1930s NYC. One thing I appreciated was how the character Doyle's signature comment "check" was not beaten into the ground after a few offerings early on in the picture. This was a smart move. There was also use of background music, which wasn't yet common in 1932. This film is adult in treatment and was highly enjoyed. I am pleased to give this film a high rating even though it came from a relatively small releasing company and seen on a choppy and somewhat blurry print, but its quality comes through well.

A nice little forgotten film

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 7 July 2011]

Most films from the early 1930s have been forgotten. However, this is a shame because nice little films like "Uptown New York" are waiting to be discovered. "Uptown New York" stars Shirley Grey, Leon Ames and Jack Oakie--all relatively obscure to the average person today but relatively famous in their time. It begins with Ames dating Grey and it looks as if they'll soon marry. However, Ames' traditional Jewish family assumes that now that he's becoming a doctor he'll marry a nice Jewish girl--one the family has pretty much picked out for him. Now in the family's defense, it appears as if Ames never told them about Grey--and he obediently drops Grey and marries the family's choice. Grey is naturally devastated--and soon meets nice-guy Oakie and begins dating him on the rebound. But, when Ames later returns and wants to either have an affair or marry her, Grey is stumped--she likes Oakie and is comfortable, but she still has a strong connection with Ames. Despite this, she marries Oakie--and then the film gets a bit overly melodramatic in a twist I will let you see for yourself. Still, with nice acting, a nice and simple story and decent production values, it's a sweet and easy to like film. In particular, Oakie comes off very in the film.

By the way, if you do watch this film, get a load of the introduction screen. The lady holding the globes looks, well, quite bizarre. You just have to see it for yourself and I'll say no more about that. Also, although never stated or even strongly implied, I think the film is trying to delicately say that Grey and Ames' relationship had been sexual but unlike some Pre-Code films, they left this up to the audience to decide for themselves and I can't imagine younger viewers noticing this.

If would like to see it, follow the IMDb link and you can download it yourself for free.

Shirley Grey and Jack Oakie Are Given the Roles of Their Careers!!

[kidboots · 9/10 · 16 June 2014]

Vina Delmar was a popular author of the day who wrote several scandalous novels that gave her an entry into Hollywood. "Bad Girl", dealing with pre-marital love and pregnancy, was initially banned by some book sellers before going on to give Sylvia Sidney stage fame and as a movie helping Sally Eilers bring out her acting ability. "Uptown New York", based on her story "Uptown Woman" took advantage of the trend at the time to portray a husband and a wife who is in love with another man who just happens to be Jewish.

Shirley Grey was a lovely blonde who made her debut the year before in "The Public Defender" but just couldn't break into the big time and a couple of personal setbacks didn't help. She definitely was not given a better chance to make good than in her portrayal of Patricia, who loves Max (Leon Waycoff) and can't see any obstacles to a happy future. But Max is Jewish and feels he has certain obligations to the sacrifices of his parents who have scrimped and saved to put him through medical school - they also expect him to marry a nice Jewish girl who has already been picked out for him!!

The film also deals with pre-marital sex - that is the thing on Pat's mind when she meets and marries knockabout vending machine proprietor Eddie Doyle (Jack Oakie). Even though Max is married and has a very "up market" future he is still ardently pursuing Pat - to the point where he offers her a Park Avenue penthouse if she will only consent to resume their relationship.

This is a smoothly directed film by Victor Schertzinger (he of "Heads Up" (1930) and "Safety in Numbers"(1930) musical fame) with an outstanding performance by Jack Oakie who gives dimension to what would be the type of role he could play in his sleep. The wedding night is ominous - the only room available is next to a suite where a wild party is going on, then Pat decides to come clean about her past and feelings about Max but Eddie still feels they can make a go of it. Leon Waycoff (soon to be Ames) has the distinctly unsympathetic role of Max who doesn't see why his marriage should interfere with his private pleasure. Ames had a more meatier role in "The Famous Ferguson Case".

Just as Pat and Eddie are settling into married life, Pat is involved in a car accident. Eddie puts aside his pride and asks Max to perform the operation, overhears Max asking Pat to throw her marriage aside (she has just come from the operating theatre, I ask you!!) and to go away with him (Max is a real irritation!!), doesn't wait to hear her response (of course!!) but sells his lucrative business to pay the medical bills so he won't be beholden to Max, then tries to disappear from her life!! No matter how indecisive Pat appears, she is never going to fall in with Max's slick plan!!

A really top film with shades and nuances (not the usual poverty rower) that tries to delve into people's personality and characters - definitely not by the numbers. And, yes, this features the World Wide logo with a woman (looking very much like Claudia Dell) holding spinning globes!!

Jack Oakie shines in a rare drama

[reginadanooyawkdiva · 10/10 · 4 February 2022]

I found this hidden gem on a streaming movie channel. I knew I was in for some great pre-code fun when the beginning started with a lady holding two large globes to her chest! The movie starts with Pat (a very underrated Shirley Grey) and Max Silver (Leon Ames, then known as Leon Waycoff) professioning their love for each other. Pat then says good night and goes to her apartment. Max later comes up, claiming he wants to call a cab. He calls the cab, but didn't go back downstairs. You know what happens next.

Cut to Max's parents home, where his parents congratulate him on finally becoming a doctor and his residency in Vienna. They are also Orthodox Jewish and have picked out the woman he will marry. It's not Pat.

Pat finds out from the newspaper she has been dumped. Life goes on. She goes to Luna Park in Coney Island and somehow gets stuck in the ladies room in a restaurant. The owner (Henry Armetta) asks Eddie (Jack Oakie) who is eating there, to help get her out without breaking down his door. He and Eddie get her out by a window but rip her dress in the process. Pat asks Eddie to escort her home because of her ripped dress. He does and he asks her out. After some hemming and hawing she does.

Eddie's job is collecting coins in gum machines. He's a working class, two fisted guy and very likeable. Max is not. He comes back and thinks he can pick up where he left off. Pat, who is now dating Eddie, keeps telling him no, which he doesn't take for an answer.

She and Eddie get engaged, but she skips her engagement party to be with Max. Nevertheless she marries Eddie on the rebound. On their wedding night, she tells him about her involvement with Max and it would be okay if he left, knowing this. He stays.

Fast forward, the slip into a happy married life until a accident lands her in the hospital.", needing a delicate spinal surgery. Knowing Max is a renowned doctor, he begs for his help. The surgery is a success, but Eddie feels that Pat still has feelings for Max. He sells his business to pay the doctor bill, even though Max did it for free. Eddie then leaves. Max sees this as an opening and gives Pat a boat ticket for Vienna (separate cabinets for show, Max says). Will she leave with Max? I won't tell the end, but it all works out.

I usually like Leon Ames. He's the loving father in Meet Me in St. Louis and the boisterous Colonel Kirkwood in Mr. Ed. His behavior in this movie was so selfish and mean, I was rooting for Eddie to beat the crap out of him.

Anyway, if you have a smart TV and are looking for great pre-code entertainment see this movie.